Live-action Gintama Film To Screen In U.s., Canada In January

Azoland Pictures to distribute film with Well Go USA

Film distribution company Azoland Pictures announced on Monday that it will release the live-action film of Hideaki Sorachi's Gintama manga in theaters in the United States and Canada starting on January 19, 2018.

Azoland Pictures is partnering with Well Go USA, the company that is releasing the film on home video in North America. The DVD, Blu-ray Disc and DVD combo pack, and Digital HD release is slated for March 6.

The film opened in Japan on July 14, and it earned 980 million yen (US$8.9 million) in its first four days. The film also inspired a live-action net show that debuted on Docomo's dTV streaming service on July 15, one day after the film's opening. The film already had its Canadian premiere at the Fantasia International Film Festival in July, and it will also screen in the United States, Canada, Germany, Spain, and Central and South America.

The film will get a sequel tentatively titled Gintama Part 2 in summer 2018.

Sorachi began the manga in 2004 and it continues to be ranked among the top-selling manga in Japan. The manga has more than 50 million copies in print in Japan. Viz Media published the first 23 volumes in English. Shueisha published the manga's 70th volume on October 4. The manga entered its final arc in July 2016.

Crunchyroll is currently streaming the Gintama Season 4 anime, which premiered on October 1. The anime will enter the manga's "Gin no Tamashii" (Silver Soul) arc on January 7.